Universal tufting machine



Dec. 21, 1943. .p, TAN'IS AL 2,337,529

UNIVERSAL TUFTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1941 l4 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 21, 1943. P. TANIS s'rm.

UNIVERSAL TUFTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 194l 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 1720671727715: Fag/Ems)? ymVfi/Ms; 1220/5. W. .l

' Dec. 21, 1943. P.'TANIS ETAL.

I UNIVERSAL TUFTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1941 14 She ets-Sheet 5 7221/ 75/2/5119 Q/ZZ KM KN Dec. 21, 1943.

P. TANIS ETAL UNIVERSAL TUFTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1941 l4 Sheets-Sheet 6 Dec. 21, 1943. P. TANiS ETAL UNIVERSAL TUFTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1941 '14 Sheets-Sheet 7 Dec. 21, 1943.

P. TANIS ETAL 2,337,529 UNIVERSAL TUFTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1941 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 Z7 ,22 z?- 3151925 70 Z5 Dec. 21, 1943. P.'TAN|S .ETAL

UNIVERSAL TUFTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1941 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 Dec. 21, 1943. P. TANls ETAL UNIVERSAL TUFI'ING MACHINE 14 Shets-Sheet 16 Filed Dec. 4, 1941 f a A a 17 3 v H M/ ifnuenzor F Dec. 21, 1943. P. TANIS ETAL UNIVERSAL TUFTING MACHINE Fild Dec. 4, 1941 14 Sheets-Sheet 11 fill/67223732 .Pau/ 75/1/5, Fay/170m 75/7/5,

Gym! 727/155.

Filed Dec. 4, 1941 14 Sheets-Sheet l5 0 MIDDLE Ely/270ml 250/;Q/17767% Dec. 21, 1943. P. TANIS ETAL UNIVERSAL TUFTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1941 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 Patented Dec. 21, 1943 UNIVERSAL TUFTING MACHINE Paul Tanis, Raymond Tanis, and Cyril Tania,

. Chicago, Ill.

Application December 4, 1941,.Serial No. 421,538

11 Claims. (01. 112-79) 7 and similar articles.

The principal objects of the invention are to v provide a simple and efiicient apparatus for this purpose, inwhich cloth can be easily tufted with intricate patterns and designs such as continuous loops, spirals, crenellations, and other geometrical curves and figures in a rapid and accurate manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a universal tufting machine that will, upon the manipulation of a control handle, simultaneously tuft and feed the cloth in the proper direction to obtain any predetermined or extemporaneous design of tufting on the cloth operated on.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of this kind that will tuft these designs into the cloth while maintaining the cloth in a rectilineal position with respect to the axis or the machine.

More specifically and briefly stated, the invention embodies a tufting mechanism that will upon the rotation of a manually controlled handle, correspondingly rotate about an axis through its tufting needle to tuft and feed cloth in any desired direction.

In the'past, tufting machines would tuft and feed the cloth in one direction only, and were only suitable for tufting straight and relatively simple designs to the cloth operated on.

The cloth had to be moved and manipulated under the tufting head of the machine to follow the predetermined design (usually stencilled on the cloth) of tufting desired. The working clearance under the tufting head arm of a tufting machine is relatively short and the upright portion of said arm is an undesirable obstruction to the manipulation, by an operator, of relatively large pieces of cloth or other cloth articles to be tufted with spiral, looped or crenellated designs, etc., because the cloth in this particular case had to be frequently moved and rotated under the tufting head to receive the desired tufted pattern. For instance, in tufting a pattern consisting of a series of continuous loops as partof a bedspread design, the entire bed spread had to be rotated one complete turn of 360 for each and every loop tufted in the design, and in addition, if the loops in the design changed their general direction, that is to say, reversed loops, the bed spread had to be reversed in direction by the operator. These frequent clockwise and contra-clockwise rotations and manipulations of the material to be tufted wasted time and effort, causing obstructed visibility and inconvenience for the operator due to the launching of the cloth at the tufting head and tufting head upright arm, resulting in poor quality of workmanship and loweredproduction.

In our present invention we have overcome all these objections by providing a universal tufting machine that will tuft cloth or cloth articles with any design or pattern without requiring the rotation or direct manipulation of the cloth by the operator; instead the operator merely keeps the cloth taut and flat (with one hand) under the tufting head of the present invention and with the other hand directs and controls the pattern to be tufted by rotating in either direction, the control handle in a suitable manner; the cloth-or cloth articles being tufted always maintaining their parallelism with respect to the tufting arm and work table of the machine.

In the accompanying drawings, 4

Fig. 1 is a front view of the machine with the tufting mechanism in a position assumed just after a loop of yarn has been cut through to form a tuft and the feeding foot has fed the cloth preparatory to forming another tuft loop; (as in the 0 position of Fig. 45) the control handle assuming a position for tufting a straight line pattern -(as in the upper left hand portion of Fig. 46)

and operturntable assuming v rious positions in dotted lines; to feed and t1; t in corresponding directions.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the upper portion 55 of Fig. 1 with the gontrol handle and tuftini! Fig. Z-is a front view looking in the direction of the arrows on line of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of of Fig. 2. I

Fig. 8A is'an enlarged sectional view on the line lA8A of Fig. 8. I

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-! of Fig.8. 7

Fig. 10 is a sectional view ill-l0 ofFig.7.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line ll--I I.oi. Fig. 6. a 'Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on the--line l 2l2, of Fig. 7.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 7.

taken on the line the lower portion I 2i--2l of Fig. 6.

Fig.- 22 is an enlarged view partly in section taken on the line 2222 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 23 is a View partly in section taken on the line 23-23 of Fig-. 22 but having the main drive shaft and associated parts rotated to a position as indicated at ordinate 300 of Fig. 45 and having the cloth feeding'foot and associated parts positioned by the control handle (see Fig. 52) to tuft horizontally to the right as shown in the upper right hand portion of Fig. 46.

Fig, 24 is a sectional view taken on the line 2424 of Fig. 23 but having the feeding foot and associated parts positioned by the control handle (see Fig. 56) to tuft horizontally to the left as shown in the upper right hand portion of Fig. 46.

Fig. 25 is a sectional view taken on the line 2525 of Fig. 23.

Fig. 26 is a plan view of the yarn looping and cutting mechanism with parts broken away and in section, taken on the line 28-26 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 27 is a sectional view on the line 2121 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 28 is a sectional view on the line 2828 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 29 is an elevational View with parts broken away, taken on the line 2929 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 30 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but having the main drive shaft and co-acting parts rotated to a position as indicated at ordinate 90 of Fig. 45.

' Fig. 31 is a view showing the lower continuation of Fig. 30.

Fig. 32 is a section, with parts broken away, taken on the line 32-32 of Fig. 31.

Fig. 33 is a sectional view taken on the line 33-33 of Fig. 'l, but with its parts positioned to correspond with Fig. 30.

Fig. 34 is a fragmentary view of the thread control with its cam rotated to a position similar to that of Fig. 30.

Fig. 35 is a view similar to Fig. 30 but having .he main driveshaft and co-acting parts rotated to a position as indicated at ordinate 210 of Fig. 45.

Fig. 36 is a view showing the lower continuation of Fig. 35.

Fig. 37 is a section with parts. broken away,

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken on the line Fig. 42 is a section, with parts broken away, l4-l4 of Fig. 6. taken on the line 42-42 of Fig. 41.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on the line Fi 43 is a view similar to Fig. 38, but having l5l5 of Fig. 6. its parts positioned to conform with Fig. 40.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 Fig. 44 is a view similar to Fig. 39, but having I6-l6 of Fig. 6. a position conforming with Fig. 40.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken" on the line Fi 45 is a time chart diagram showing the I1--l1 of Fig. 6. movements of the various elements (see Figs. Fig. is is a sectional view taken onthe line 1'. 2. 6 to 11 i si d 0 to 44 i lusive) l8l8 of Fig. 6. 10 of the universal tufting machine for one com- Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken on the line plete r volu n f he in drive shafti9l9 ofFig. 6. Fig. 46 is the reverse side of a portion of cloth Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken on the line Showing variously looped designs of tuftin a it 20-40 of Fig. 6. would appear looking in the direction of the ar- Fig. 21 is a sectional view taken on the line 15 rows 011111195 46-46 of FigS- 7 d Fig. 47 is a view of the obverse side of the tufted cloth as shown in Fig. 46.

Fig. 48 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 48--48 of Fig. 46.

Fig. 49 is a sectional view taken onthe line 49-49 of Fig. 48.

Figs. 50 to 57 inclusive are diagrammatic planviews of the feeding foot collar, feeding foot, turntable, looping and cutting mechanism, and

control handle, advanced in 45 increments bysaid handle to positions required to tuft corresponding positions of the cloth as shown in Fig. 46.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, in general the invention comprises a tufting head mechanism I having a rotatable spindle 2 in vertical alignment with a simultaneously rotatable, coacting and complementary tufting mechanism 3, the rotations thereof controllable by the manually operated handle H through mitre gears suitably arranged to simultaneously rotate shaft 4 which drives spindle 2 through mitre gears 5, 5a, and shaft 6 which, through spur gears i and 8 drives the tuf ting mechanism 3; a constant speed drive shaft 9 has secured thereto at the tufting head I, cam ill for vertical actuation of cloth feeding foot i2 and cloth hold down nipple l3, and cam H for horizontal actuation of cloth feeding foot i2; a sprocket l4, secured to shaft 9 (see Fig. 3), drives sprocket l5 fixed to shaft i6, through chain I'l, causing rotation of shafts 16 to vertically actuate needle bar spindle IB by crank i9, and thread control arm 20 by cam 2|; an eccentric disc 22, secured to shaft 9 reciprocally actuates eccentric rod 23 rocking bell crank lever 24 ,through universal link 25 (see Fig. 3A), reciprocating tie rod 26, rocking bell crank lever 21 to oscillate in a vertical plane, looper 28, and knife 29, of tufting mechanism 3, through the medium of a vertically reciprocating shaft 30. The tufting head mechanism I is supported above the base 3| by an arm 32 rigidly secured thereto, said base 3| having depending from its lower face 33, a U-frame 302 within which the tufting mechanism 3 is rotatably mounted; a motor, not shown, drives belt 34, rotating pulley 35 fixed to shaft 9, actuating by means heretofore described, cloth feeding foot i2, cloth hold down nipple l3, needle bar spindle l8, thread control arm 29, looper 28, and knife 29, one turn or revolution of the pulley 35 operating these elements through one complete cycle. The handle H, when oscillated or rotated will simultaneously, and with the same angularity and direction, oscillate or rotate spindle 2, cloth hold down nipple I3, needle bar spindle l8, comprising needle bar B and needle N, and tufting mechanism 3, which includes looper 28, knife 29 and turntable 36; i. e., a one-eighth or 45 clockwise rotation of handle H (see Fig. 51) moves the aforesaid elements through a 45 rotation and in a clockwise direction; the velocity ratio of handle H, tufting mechanism 3, and spindle 2 being one to one.

The operation of the machine from the operators point of view is briefly as follows: Lever 31 is manually lifted in the direction of arrow (see Fig. 2) raising the cloth feeding foot |2 from the base or table 3| so cloth C to be tufted can be positioned therebe'tween. The tufted design is usually printed, in the form of a thin line, Cl on the reverse side Cr of the cloth C (see Fig. 46), to guide the operator tufting this predetermined design. When the cloth is properly positioned under the feeding foot |2 the needle N and cloth hold down nipple l3 are directiy above that point of the printed line Cl, whereupon the tufting is to be stitched; a few inches of yarn Y, are pulled down from the needle N through the nip ple l3 and foot l2 and passed between the reverse side Cr of cloth C and replaceable friction ring l2a, preferably made of rubber, of the foot I2. When lever 31 is now lowered to its original position to allow foot I2 to engage the cloth C, the adjustments are completed and the machine is now ready to tuft the cloth. A foot op erated rheostat is usually used to control the mtor, not shown, which rotates shaft 9 through belt 34 and pulley 35 to actuate the needle N, nipple |3, looper 28, and knife 29 to tuft the cloth; and the foot |2 to horizontally feed the cloth in a straight line to the left (see Fig. 2), when the handle H is stationary, and in the position shown. This operation will produce a straight line of tufting a as indicated in Fig. 46. Any departure from this straight line of tufting is effected by movement of handle H which correspondingly causes the cloth feeding foot 2 to alter its direction of feed, and the nipple l3, needle N, looper 28 and knife 29 to simultaneously assume a relative co-angular position.

The flat rectangular base 3| (see Figs. 4 and has rigidly mounted thereupon, a vertical standard 320 integral with a horizontal arm 32b terminating in a. c shaped supporting bracket 320 at the tufting head I. Attached to the open ends of bracket 320 is a vertical mechanism supporting plate 38 having a guide strip 38d, an

upper bearing block 38a attached thereto, and a lower bearing block 38b in vertical alignment and outwardly turned for the rotatable support of spindle 2 and associated parts. The front face of the arm 32b and standard 32a is recessed at 320 for housing the shafts 4, 9 and I I5 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and is provided with a cover plate 39. The end wall 40 of the standard 32a and the vertical wall 4| of the bracket 320 are provided with horizontally aligned bearings 48a and 4| a respectively, for the rotary support of drive shaft 9 which projects into the space 42 between the plate 38 and the wall 4| of the bracket 320, said shaft 9 having fixed to its projected end radial cam l0 for actuating bell-crank follower levers 43 and 44 and radial cam H for actuating bell-crank follower lever 45 (see Figs. '7, 10, 11, 14 and 15). The follower levers 43, 44 and 45 are fulcrume about shoulder screws 46 which are fastened to the plate 38 (see Fig. The follower lever 45 has arm 45a which is provided with a pivoted roller 45c at the end thereof for engagement with cam II, and arm 45?) for vertical actuation of slide bar 50 by engagement with pin 50a attached to said bar 50 and projecting through a slot 501) in the plate 38 (see Figs. 10 and 25 Slide bar 50 is constrained to vertical movement against actuate said cam 48 which is slidable on and rotatable with the spindle 2 (see Figs. 6, '7, 16 and 24). A lever 49, of the first order is vertically pivoted to a member 5| by a pin 5|a that is press fitted into the fork 5| b of said member, which is an integral enlargement of the square shaft portion 5|c therebelow. The member 5| is securely mounted on the spindle 2 by a set-screw 52 and is provided with a pair of helically wound torsion springs 53 diametrically positioned on the member 5| by shoulder screws 530. One end of the springs 53 bending as at 53a (see Fig. 11), and projecting into openings in member 5| are thus effectively prevented from rotating; the other ends terminating in relatively long legs 53b depending to and acting on annularly grooved collar 54 having suitable vertical openings 54a therethrough (see Fig. 19) for receiving the legs 53b of the springs 53 which urge said collar 54 in a direction to the right as ,seen in Fig. 6. The collar 54 is provided with a rectangular opening 54b, having the long sides 54c thereof engaging the square shaft portion 5lc of the member 5|, and a notch 54d (see Fig. 19), to form an opening 49o therethrough between said collar 54 and embracing shifter ring 5511 which is pinned at 55b to the cloth feeding foot lever 55 oscillating therewith from pivot pin 56a.

The lever arm 49a of the lever 49 projects downwardly through the opening 49b between collar 54 and shifter ring 55a for oscillatory en gagement therewith; the oscillation efiected by the engagement of the upper arm 490 of lever 49 with inclined plane 48a of cam 48 which has projecting wings 48c extending over the sides of arm 490 of lever 49 to effect rotation therewith. That is to say, cam 48, member 5| with lever 49, collar 54 and spindle 2 rotate as a unit, while downward verticalmovement of slide bar causes horizontal oscillation of feed foot l2 to feed cloth C leftwardly by fork 5|b coacting with cam'48 and inclined plane 48a to resultantly cause arm 490 of lever 49 to rock clockwise about pin 5|a of member 5|, arm 49a moving collar 54 leftwardly, causing ring 55a to oscillate the lever 55 leftwardly from fulcrum pin 58c energizing springs 53, and carrying said feed foot I2 therewith, ,(see Fig. 6). The re leaseof the potential energy from springs 53 to collar 54, which oscillates the lever 55 through ring 5511 to idly return foot l2 to initial cloth feeding position, is controlled by the upward movement of incline plane 48a of cam 48, permitting the lever 49 to rock contra-clockwise, collar 54 causing arm 49a to transmit its force through arm 490 against incline plane 48a of said cam 48 which is urged upwardly by torsion' spring 51 acting through shifter fork 59d of bar 50, having pin 58a which urges arm 45b of follower lever 45 to contraclockwise rotation causing roller 45c to follow the receding lobe of cam thereby allowing the upward movement of cam 48 (see Figs. 35 and 38) The horizontal actuation of feed foot |2 by the rotation of cam I'I having been described, its vertical actuation by cam I is as follows: The follower lever 43 has arm 43a terminating in a semi-circular end 430 to serve as a roller to engage and be actuated by a radial cam I0 fixed to drive shaft 9. Arm 43b of follower lever 43 is positioned for vertical actuation of slide bar 18 by engagement with pin a which projects through a slot 101) in plate 38, said pin 10a integral with said bar I0 which is vertically constrained against the face 380 of plate 38 by "rectangular opening 'Illc formed by guide strip 38d and plate 38 at its upper end and by guide block 58 at its lower end (see Figs. 13, 1'7 and 22).

Perpendicularly projecting from the face of bar I0 and adjacentguide strip 38d is an integral bracket 10d terminating in a bearing support for compound swivel 56 in parallel alignment with plate 38. See Figs. 6, 14 and 22. The compound swivel 56 has horizontally projecting journal 56a oscillatably mounted in bracket 10d and retained therein by collar 56b, a vertically bored sleeve 56c slidably and loosely mounted on spindle 2, and a rectangular mid-section 56d (see Fig. 14) provided with transverse pivot pin 56s to carry the yoke 550 'of cloth feeding foot lever 55 which freely oscillates thereon. The lower curved end Hie of bar I0 when in the position shown in Fig. 6 is in juxtaposition with the cam portion 31a of lever 31 which is pivoted by screw 31b; the said lever 31, when lifted, will through the resultant action of cam portion 31a against the end 10a of rod III (which is connected to lever 55) cause the foot I2 to lift vertically from the turntable 36 for the placement of cloth therebetween. The foot I2 has a, vertical leg I2b adjustably mounted on the lower end 55d of lever 55 and securely fastened thereto by clamp 58 and thumb screw 58a. A spring 59 (see Fig. 2) has a leg 59a hooked in the plate 38 so that its other leg 58b, hooked into 9. lug Ill! laterally attached to bar I0, will react to urge it downwardly (see Figs. 6 and 16).

It will be evident that while the cams I0 and II actuate levers 43 and 45, slide bars 10 and 50, and then levers 55 and 49 respectively, the feed foot I2 may have any predetermined motion in a vertical plane; however, the cams I0 and II are designed and timed to actuate the foot I2 as shown in Figs. 6, 35 and 40, to feed the cloth leftwardly, lift away from the cloth, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, move over the cloth rightwardly (see Fig. 35), and descend on the cloth (see Fig. 40). Diagram boxes V and W of Fig. 45 graphically illustrate that foot I2 dwells in a down position for 120", lifts up while moving to the right for 90, continues to moverightwardly while descending, for 90 and for the last 60 remains down while moving leftwardly. Torsion spring 59 with legs 59a and 59burges the pin 10a of bar 10 against the end of arm 43b of lever 43 to keep the end 430- against the cam I0 to effect lifting of the foot I2; there being sufficient clearance between pin 10a and lever arm 43b, lever end 43c and cam I0 to allow the foot I2 to resiliently press on the cloth C and compensate for any variation in thickness of cloth or projecting loops YI of yarn Y. Torsion springs 53 cause foot I2 to move rightwardly on its idle return stroke; and the cam II through the actuation of lever 45 and bar 50 moves inclined plane 48a of cam 48 downward, causing clock wise rotation-0f lever 49 to move collar 54, ring 55a, lever 55. and foot I2 leftwardly. It will thus be seen that the combined action of the cams I0 and II utimately impart to the foot l2 an intermittent feeding action that will be co-ordinated with nipple I3, needle N, looper 28 and cutter 29. The actuation of the nipple I3 by cam I0 is as followsr-The lever 44 has an arm 44a terminating in a semi-circular end 440 to act as a roller and co-act with the cam I0. The arm' 44b of lever 44 is provided with a lug 44d at its extremity which projects into a slot 60b which extends through the plate 38; said lug 44d liftably engaging a pin 60a that integrally projects from bar 60, which is forced to vertical movement by guide blocks 6I fastened to the face 380 of plate 38 and bar 50 of which a lower portion vertically slides upon the face 600 of said bar 60 (see Figs. 6, '7, 16, 17 and 25). At the lower end of bar 60 is integrally attached a leftwardly projecting fork 60d (see Fig. 6), engaging rotatably, an annular groove 62a formed in the annular enlargement 62b of sleeve 62 which is slidably mounted upon the lower end of spindle 2 and feather keyed thereto as at 620 to effect rectilineal and rotary motion therewith. (See Figs. 11, 20 and 21.) The nipple I3 is secured to the lower end of sleeve 62 by set-screws I30. and tapers downwardly to a reduced cylindrical portion I3b which terminatesin a hold-down surface I30, having a relieved portion or step I3d out therein (see Fig. 8); the portion I3b having a vertical opening I3e therethrough for the vertical actuation of needle N and yarn Y and a semicircular notch I3f to facilitate the threading of yarn Y into said needle B (see Fig. 8). The movement of nipple I3 is shown graphically in diagram box U of Fig. 45 thus: From the position shown in Fig. 6, which represents the 0 ordinate, the nipple I3 continues to rise for 30, falls for 60, dwells down for 210, and rises 60". As shown in Figs. 31 and 32, the nipple I3 holds the cloth C firmly against the turntable 36 while the needle N is piercing said cloth C and drawing yarn Y therethrough.

The shaft I6 as heretofore mentioned, is driven by main shaft 9 through sprockets I4 and I5 and chain I! which is provided with an adjustable idler I'Ia to maintain desirable tension thereon; said idler I'Ia supported by a bracket I'Ib attached to the upper surface of horizontal arm 3222. A bearing I6a mounted upon bracket I6b attached to wall 32d of the standard 32a and a bearing I6c in bracket 63 which is mounted upon the upper portion 32e of bracket 32c support shaft I6 in rotatable alignment. The left hand end of shaft I6 is provided with a counterweighted crank I9 fixed thereon. A roller I9a journalled at and projecting from the end of crank I8 engages a slot 64a in cross-head 64 integrally attached to a rectangular stem 64b upwardly extending through and slidably guided by a bearing bracket 65 horizontally attached to and above the bracket 63; the stem 64b also extending downwardly through a bearing 66 formed between the plate 38 and upper portion 32e of bracket 320, said bearing 66 continuing downwardly in the form of a channel 66a in plate 38, and terminating at 66b (see Figs. 11, 13 and 14). The lower portion of stem 64b is slotted as at .640 and slidably engages the end 90. of shaft 9 to assist in the vertical alignment of forked bracket 61 attached to the crosshead 63. The forked bracket 61 engages rotatably, an annular groove I8a in the enlarged diameter I8b of spindle I8 for vertical actuation therewith; said spindle l8 having, at its upper end, thumb-screw I80 to clamp, within its bore lad, a needle bar B having cylindrical hole BI therethrough for passage of yarn Y which emerges at the notch B2 formed in segmental portion B3 which has a roove B4 for the retention of removable needle N by set-screws B5 (see Figs. 11, 18 and 19). The spindle 2 has, at its upper end, an enlarged bore 201 terminating at 2b for the vertical reciprocation of needle bar spindle i8 which termiinates at I8e, see Figs. 24 and 25, said spindle I! having a vertical slot i8f feather keyed to shoulder screw 68 in the enlargedhead 20 at the upper extremity of said spindle 2. A forked block 89 is fastened to the upper surface of 8'lflde stripfld to engage, rotatably, the annular.

groove 2d in the enlarged head 20 of spindle 2 to prevent its vertical movement (see Figs. 7, ll, 13 and 24). Needle bar 13 is rigidly. held in bore lid of spindle iii to its terminating point We, and is slidably'guided for vertical actuation in bore 2e of spindle 2. It will be apparent that while needle bar spindle l8 with""needle bar B and needle N reciprocate, within spindle 2, which is constrained. vertically,- these elements will have unitary rotation effected by slot l8 and screw 68, when gear 5a drives gear 5 fixed to said spindle 2 by set-screw 5b. The time chart diagram, Fig. 45, illustrates graphically in box 13 the position of the needle N, needle bar B, and needle bar spindle l8 at the ordinate which corresponds with Fig. 11. The needle is in an extreme upward position and harmonically moves downward by the co-action of the crank I 9, rotating contra-clockwise as seen in Fig. 6, the crank roller i 9a, and cross-head slot 64a, to the 180 ordinate, which is the extreme downward position for needle N, then harmonically moves upward to the 360 ordinate, or as shown in Figs. 6 and 11. Having described the mechanism for actuating needle N, the thread control, or the mechanism for properly supplying I the yarn to the needle will now be described.

The cam 2|, adjacent bracket 63, is fixed to the shaft it by pin 2 la, which is a'driving connection between fixed collar 2lb on said shaft 18 and said cam 2i (see Figs. 10 and 12), which ver tically actuates push rod H which is guidedby.

bearings 65a and 6517 on the vertical leg Bio of bracket 66 which terminates in a yokeifi'd for pivotal support of thread control, arm 20 by'pin aasmae 5.

boxes S and t of Fig. 45, and Figs. 1 and 9, 3 and 39, 42 and 44.- Assuming the machine was operatingand is stopped at a position shown in Figs.

1 and 9 or 0 ordinate, Fig. 45: a loopof yarn Yi I remains between eye 20a of lowered arm 20 and raised bushing B6 of needle bar B (see Fig. 1) with needle N positioned to pierce cloth 0 with a length of yarn Y2 between eye Ni of needle N and looper 28 equivalent to yarn loop Yi (see Figs.

'8 and 9 Shaft 9 rotates for 180 and the needle I N descends, while the arm remains stationary; the results of this action illustrated in Figs. 37 and 39 wherein the needle N has forced the length of yarn Y2 through the cloth 0 forming a yarn l5 loop Y3; the descent of needle N dropping the bushing B8 away from the statibnary eye 20a, causing the yarn loop Y! to become a taut length of yarn Y4. A further 90 rotation of shaft 9 causes arm 20 and needle N to assume the posi- 20 tions shown in Figs. 42 and 44 wherein both arm 20 and needle N are lifted (see ordinate 270 Fig. 45), the arm 20 having reached a maximum upward position, and the needle N raised onehalf itsupward stroke; this simultaneous rise of both eye 20a ofrarm 20 and needle N causes the yarn loop Y3 to become taut around and from the looper 28 as at Y5 to eye 20a, that is to say, the yarn; Y is stretched down from the cloth C around the looper finger 28a, through the needle 30 eye NI and needle bar B to the eye 20a of arm 20, the needle eye Nisliding upwardly through the stationary yarn Y, while the arm 20 in raising, measures another potential loop of yarn Y6. As the shaft 9 rotates another 90 to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 9. or the 360? ordinate in Fig. 45, the ;.eye 20a of arm 20 descends while the needle N, including needle barB and bushing B6 ascends (see chart boxes 8 and t Fig. 45) to meet again as in Fig. l, causing the taut length of'yam Y6..in Fig. 44 to become another yarn loop Yl. It is clearly understood from the foregoing description that the 'yarn Y is not fed from the cop (not shown) by the descending needle; the I45 properlength is measured by the arm 20 while 6 the needle is ascending and the yarnis taut.

Having described the mechanism of the head i, the mechanism of the complementary and vertically aligned head llocated beneath the base 3| so will now be described: I

the recess 32c of-standard 32a reciprocallymoves u; said arm tapering leftwardlym an '-*"rotatabi-y mountedv shaft 30 through vertically in alignment with and oscillatable above inlet bushing B6 of the needle bar B." u

The arm 20 is a lever of the third or deriand is moved upwardly'by push rod Ii at 20b, and moved downwardly by spring 13,tensi oned between arm 20 at 20c, and bracket 05' at GBdya compression spring ll threaded on rod H, re acts between bearing 65a and washer Ha fixed to the middle of pushrod- 'li tourge'it against cam 2| during the downward movementof arm 20 (see Figs. 1, 2, an'd 4) Yarn Y, drawn from a cop, not shown, is passed between the discs of an adjustable tensioning device T, through a pair of eyelet guides G, through the eye 20a of thread control arm 20. thence through bushing BB of needle bar B. emerging at B2, continuing'down through the bore 2c of spindle 2, through the eye NI of needle N, emerging at the left, downwardly through opening l3e of nipple 13, through foot l2 and opening 36a of turntable 36 to the I reciprocating eccentric rod 23 but in an opposed to direction thereto (see Figs. 1, 3, and 3A). Chart box'X-of Fig. graphically shows this move- I ment, wherein ordinate 0 corresponds to the position of shaft 30 in Figs. 1, 2 and 8, said shaft 30 moving harmonically down for 90", ha.rmonically up for 180, and down for 90 to repeat the motion from 0 ordinate during the rotation of shaft 9; the movement of rod 23 shown in dotted lines in chart box X of Fig. 45. Collars 9b and I So fixed to shaft 9 prevent axial displacement of 6 eccentric strap 23a of eccentric rod 23 which is universally connected to bell-crank lever 24 by clevis link .25 having pivot pin 15 connecting the lower end of rod 23, and the pivot pin 16 connecting the arm 24a of lever 2t fulcrumed about shoulder screw 11, which is fastened to depending support |8 rigidly held to face 33 of base 3|.

The adjustable arm 24?) of lever 24 is provided with aseries of holes 240 for the pivotal connection of clevis 19 by shoulder screw 80; the clevis I9 having an axially adjustable stem 19a Eccentric disc 22, fixed on drive shaft 8 ,w ithin threaded on the end 26a of tie rod 26 to effect any desirable change in length thereof. The other end of rod 28 is clevised as at 26b to pivotally connect with the slotted arm 21a of bellcrank 21 which is pivoted at 8I in depending bracket 82. Shoulder screw 83 is adjustably mounted in slot 21b of arm 21 to change its effective length. The other arm 210 of bell-crank 21 is forked as at 21d to reciprocate the rotatable shaft 30 which is provided with shifting collar 84 attached to its lower end; the collar 84 engaged by pins 85 extending inwardly from said fork 21d. The bracket 82 is fastened to a lug 3b integrally connected with the U-frame 3a which is provided with a central hub 30 vertically bored as at 3d for the rotatable support of depending sleeve 8a of gear 8 which is held against upward movement by collarv 86 fixed to the projecting end of said sleeve 8a.

The spur gear I is rotatably mounted on lug 3b by a stud shaft 81 secured thereto; the gear 1 meshing with gear 8 and driving it through the intermediary of a mitre gear train and handle H to be later described (see Figs. 1, 8 and 9). The vertical supporting plate 88 has a horizontal foot 88a. integral with its lower end and is rigidly fastened by screws 89 to spur gear 8 in vertical alignment with spindle 2 of tufting head I. The turntable 35 is a circular disc provided with an elongated pear shaped opening 36a (see Fig. 5), and is horizontally mounted on angle clip 90 attached to the upper end of supporting plate 88. A concentric opening 3Ia in vertical alignment with gear 8 and its sleeve 8a is provided in the base 3| for the proper positioning of turntable 36.

In the upper left hand corner of the plate 88 (see Fig, 8) is a transversely disposed hole to accommodate a sleeve bearing 9| provided with a flange 9Ia which is fastened to the back face 881) of said plate 88 (see Figs. 26 and 2'7). A pivoted cutter member 92, a lever of the first order, is provided with a hub 92a pinned to a shaft 93 rockably mounted in the sleeve bearing 9| which projects partially into the enlarged bore 92b, a slotted arm 920 for holding the knife 29, and a forked arm 92d pivotally connected as at 94 with a curved link 95 and a straight link 96. The lower end 95a of link 95 is pivotally connected with the slotted upper end 30a. of shaft 30 by a pin 91, and the lower end of link 98 is pivotally connected with looper arm 98, a lever of the third order, by an adjustable pivot 99 provided with eccentric disc 99a, a cylindrical projection 991) within a recess 98a, and a fastening screw I00 which clamps eccentric disc 99a against the face of arm 98 preventing undesirable movement therewith. By loosening screws I00 and screw l0l which fastens eccentric strap I02 to arm 98, the pivot 99 may be rotatively adjusted by means of screw driver slot 990. Tightening screw I00 prevents rotary displacement of pivot 99, and tightening screw IOI prevents lateral displacement of said pivot 99, by the engagement of eccentric strap I02 with the eccentric disc 99ato by screws II3.

with the side 2812 of looper finger 28a by compression spring I08 about the shaft 93 of the cutter arm 920; the spring I08 reacting between the nuts I01 fastened on shaft 93, and the flange 9Ia of the sleeve 9I through which said shaft 93 is urged. It is obvious that cutter arm 920 is both rotatably and resiliently mounted, and that proper shearing action between knife 29 and looper 28 will be effected while cutting the yam Y.

The looper arm. 98,'heretofore mentioned, is pivoted at its lower end byshoulder screw I08 in the plate 88, and constrained to parallel motion thereto by guide plate I09 and guide bar IIO which are fastened therewith by screw III; the lower end of inclined guide bar IIO being fastened to plate 88 by screws H2. The projection 011 at the upper end of guide bar IIO provides the fastening surface for guide plate I09 providing space between the guides for the constrainment of the arm 98 (see Fig. 26). At the upper end of arm 98, looper 28 is fastened there- The looper consists of a fiat rectangular base 280 having, at its right hand end, a stem 28d, tapering upwardly to a rightwardly projecting horizontal finger 28a terminating in a depending hook 28e (see Fig. 8). When the needle N and looper 28 are in the position shown in Figs. 35, 36 and 3'7, the hook 28c on finger 28a has slid across fiat portion N2 of said needle N in frictional engagement therewith to catch the loop of yarn Y3. As the flat portion N2 of needle N is in alignment with the center of rotation and axis of shaft 30 and gear 8, it follows that when unitary rotation is imparted thereto, the radially oscillated arm 98 will properly move the looper 28 across needle fiat N2 regardless of any angularity of rotation they might assume.

When the shaft 30 is lifted by fork 21d, it moves lower end 95a of link 95 in a straight. vertical, and upward direction, causing the pivot 94 to swing upwardly and to the left, using shaft 93 as a pivot; and moves knife blade edge 29a downwardly and to the right. In other words the linkage 93, 94, 97 is a toggle with fixed pivoI point 93, rectilineally moving pivot 91, and resultantly moving pivot 94 which lifts link 98 upwardly, swinging arm 98 from pivot I08, causing looper 28 which is positioned directly over pivot I08, to swing in a relatively long are in a clockwise direction (see Fig. 8). Having described the mechanism of tufting head I, its complementary mechanism 3, and the drive thereto from shafi 9 (see Fig. 1), the tufting of the cloth in a straight line 0: (see Fig. 46) will now be described.

By reference to Figs. 6, '7, 8 and 9 it will be seen that bars and 10 are in a lowered position resultantly causing foot I2 to contact the cloth in a position leftwardly of the needle 'N Bar is in a partially raised position with the nipple I3 lifted from the cloth C, crank I9, witl needle N being in an extreme upward position Shaft 30 ultimately actuated by eccentric 22 is it a mid-position with the looper 20 and knife 29 ir a position to allow an uncut loop of yarn Yl passing downwardly from the cloth C, looping around the finger 28a, and to pass upwardli through the needle eye NI. The uncut tuft loo;

Y1 (see Fig. 41), is now cut at Y8 (see Fig. 8] the cutting completed by transition of the looper 28 and knife 29 as shown in Fig. 41, to theil positions as shown in Fig. 8; the foot I2 feeding the cloth C leftwardly from the positior 

